Erich Ledebuhr (trumpet) had early success in his musical career, having won both the Herbert Mueller Scholarship at Ithaca College and the Music Teachers’ National Association’s prestigious Wurlitzer Collegiate Competition (Brass Division) at the age of 21.  He also was a finalist for the first annual National Trumpet Competition while studying at Ithaca College under Dr. D. Kim Dunnick.  His solo career began during his college years, having performed the Bach Cantata No. 51 and “The Trumpet Shall Sound” from Handel’s Messiah with the Elmira Symphony while serving as principal trumpet for that upstate New York organization (now the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes).  More recently, his solo activities have included performances of Aaron Copland’s Quiet City with the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra (Milford, Massachusetts), where he is currently principal trumpet.  Erich also performs as principal trumpet with the Massachusetts Wind Orchestra, and performed formerly as principal trumpet with the New England Philharmonic and the Lexington Sinfonietta.  In addition to his performing activities, Erich is Assistant Principal at the Annie Sullivan Middle School in Franklin, MA, and has been involved with both conducting and teaching trumpet for the South Shore Conservatory, the Hartwick College Summer Music Festival and Institute, and the Boston Music Education Collaborative.  After receiving his Master’s degree from New England Conservatory, Erich was honored to have been appointed vice-president for the New England Conservatory Alumni Board of Directors.

Jeffrey Hoefler (trumpet) is one of the most active free-lance trumpeters in the New England area.  His activities range from commercial work to performing with jazz, theater, wind and orchestral groups such as the Reagle Players, Massachusetts Wind Orchestra and Boston Chamber Ensemble.  He performs as Principal Trumpet for Symphony by the Sea and Hillyer Festival Orchestra, Associate Principal with the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra, and formerly with Boston Civic Symphony, Metropolitan Wind Symphony and New England Philharmonic.  He has appeared as soloist with the Symphony by the Sea, Lafayette Symphony Orchestra and the Metropolitan Wind Symphony.  In addition to his career as a trumpeter, he plays guitar and sings with Irish bands, and plays both guitar and trumpet in various German bands throughout New England.  He received degrees in Music and Engineering from Purdue University and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and has studied with Timothy Morrison and Walter Chestnut.

Hilary Ledebuhr (horn) in addition to performing with Brass Venture, is currently Third Horn with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and the Connecticut Opera.  She appears regularly in many orchestra, opera, theater, and chamber groups throughout New England.  After touring South America briefly upon receiving her master’s degree from New England Conservatory, Hilary began her free-lance career in earnest, performing with the Albany, New Hampshire, Portland and Vermont Symphony Orchestras among others.  She performs regularly with Frank Sinatra, Jr. at Mohegan Sun Casino, and has shared the stage with such performers as Il Divo, Andrea Bocelli, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Luciano Pavarotti and many others.  Raised in suburban Chicago and Elmira, New York, Hilary earned her bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College, studying with the acclaimed pedagogue, John Covert.

Jamison Clark (trombone) has performed extensively across the United States and beyond.  After twelve years on the road performing and providing master classes and clinics in 46 states, Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia, Jamie settled in his native New England.  While maintaining an active orchestral free-lance career, Jamie performs as Principal Trombone of both the Plymouth Philharmonic and the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra.  He also appears regularly with the Portland Symphony Orchestra, the Indian Hill Symphony Orchestra and ALEA III.  Jamie attended Boston University on a full scholarship, studying with Scott Hartman.  His extensive discography includes recordings of not only classical brass and orchestral repertoire, but Armenian folk music, educational demonstrations, and sacred, popular and patriotic music. He teaches trombone both privately and at Wheaton College.

Chip Halt (tuba) began his musical career at age seven with the piano.  Over the years, he moved on to trumpet, trombone, and bass trombone, before finding his home with the lowest of brass instruments, the tuba.  He quickly won recognition, performing the Vaughan Williams Concerto for Tuba with the Phoenix Symphony while in his junior year of high school.  Chip attended the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with the San Francisco Symphony’s principal tubist, Floyd Cooley.  Chip was an active freelancer throughout Northern California, performing regularly with the Napa, Rohnert Park, Vallejo, Santa Rosa, and Sacramento Symphonies, as well as substituting in the acclaimed San Francisco Symphony.  In the past ten years, Chip has played in Canada, Europe, Asia and most of the United States with a number of chamber groups, orchestras and as soloist.  In addition to performing, Chip has given clinics and masterclasses throughout the United States.  Along with his duties with Brass Venture, he maintains a busy schedule of private teaching, solo appearances and performing with various ensembles throughout New England.  You may have heard his playing in recent years at the Lion King at the Boston Opera House.